V Debuts To Huge Numbers

The numbers are in, and for ABC's burgeoning reboot drama, V, the news is more than good. Currently, the report is that approximately 13.8 million viewers tuned in to watch the updated take on Earth's struggle against the human-disguised Visitors. (Sans the snappy red jumpsuits and blublockers.) The show dominated its hour with a 5.0 and 13 share, handily defeating CBS' NCIS. (Mark Harmon and the goth chick are in tears.) While in the network vs. network context, CBS may have ultimately won the night cumulatively, V's toppling of its own "mothership" (heh, heh...) show of the NCIS franchise, spoke volumes. The numbers will also cement V as the clear winner in the Fall TV race, being the season's highest-rated new series debut.

What will this mean for the show? Whether it was the possible political undertones or the surely massive budget that the show entails, ABC did seem to hold the show at arm's length. While seemingly dragging its heels with the show, first by breaking the show's run into 4 episode "pods," and an unexpected switch-up with the show-running team, they may now be a little less apprehensive about the series. Besides the aforementioned numbers, and among other statistical accolades, V also (and perhaps, most importantly) won the night in the much-coveted ages 18-49 viewership, and was the highest-rated dramatic series debut in the 8:00 timeslot since a show with which it is constantly juxtaposed...ABC's Lost.

The comparisons to Lost will definitely not go away anytime soon. With the home-stretch of ABC's iconic sci-fi drama just around the corner, fans will be looking for a new series to which it will pass the baton. While other "baton-contender," ABC's FlashForward seems to be slowly gaining some momentum, V hit big right out of the gate, and now with its success, should have proper backing. Its obstacles, however, are pretty clear: Will it be able to maintain this momentum after having its season carved-up and cut-down? With its hiatus beginning after merely its FOURTH episode, will it return with fanfare or nonchalance in February?

Therefore, while I'd love to sit here and have a long and detailed discussion about how the show will attempt to evolve, while avoiding the creative roadblocks that unceremoniously deep-sixed the original at the end of the 1984-85 TV season, this new show probably still needs to find a way to anchor itself before worrying about that aspect.